Container-handling machine for pouring from one container into another



March 6, 1951 T. L. Buss 2,543,956

CONTAINER-HANDLING MACHINE FOR POURING FROM ONE CONTAINER INTO ANOTHERFiled Aug. 15, 1949 34 3nnentor Gttorneg iatented Mar. 6, 1951CONTAINER-HANDLING MACHINE FOR POURING FROM INTO ANOTHER ONE CONTAIN ERThomas Leon Buss, Lynwood, Calif.

Application August 15, 1949, Serial No. 110,403

. 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to amachine for pouring the contents of onecontainer into another container. The present device is moreparticularly applicable to handling a large unwieldy container forpouring all or some of the contents thereof into a smaller and morewieldy container and it is an object of the present invention to providea novel machine for upending the large container while automaticallymoving the small-container into position to receive the contents of saidlarge container.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine that hasa pivoted carrier for a large container, a generally horizontal supportfor a small container, and to so inter-connect the carrier and supportthat when the former is pivoted to tilt or upend the large container,the latter is moved from alongside the carrier to a position beneath thesame to bring the small eontainer into position to receive the contentsof the large container'while the same are poured.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully ap. pearin the course of the following description. However, the drawings merelyshow and the following description merely describes oneembodiment of thepresent invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View thereof as taken on line 22 ofFig. 1, said view also showing two operated positions of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view as taken on line33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary side view showing acounterweight for balancing part of the Weight of the large container.

The container-handling machine that is illustrated comprises, generally,a support frame 5, a carrier 6 for a large container 1 pivotally mountedin said frame, means 8 for effecting pivotal movement of the carrier onits pivot to thereby tilt or upend the container thereon, a platform 9,for a smaller container It, track means II for said platform, and means[2 inter connecting said carrier and platform whereby the latter ismoved along the platform during pivotal movement of the former.

The frame 5 comprises a pair of longitudinally arranged sleepers I 3,transverse connecting members I4 for said sleepers, a pair of upstandingposts l5, one connected to each sleeper at an intermediate point of thelength thereof, and a pair of shorter posts It at what may be termed thefront of the frame. The above elements of the frame are shown as tubularmembers but may be of any suitable structural form to provide a stablebase and upright posts, as suggested. The upper end of one post isprovided with a bearing I1 and the upper end of the'other post, by meansof a brace 18, mounts a plate I9 having thereon two bearings 20 and 2|,side by side. The former is axially aligned with bearing H. The framethus provided is open between posts [5. The carrier 6 comprises a plate22 of suitable size to accommodate and support container 1, a pair ofside members 23 secured to plate 22 at the sides thereof and extendingupwardly therefrom, and trunnions 24 extending oppositely from the upperend of members 23 and journaled in bearings I! and 20.. To holdcontainer 1 onthe carrier in all positions thereof, the latter, at itsend directed toward the front of the frame, is provided with ahalf-:round wall 25 adjacent plate plate 22 and with a fixed round strap26 upwardly spaced from said wall. Accordingly, container 1 ispositioned on plate 22 by wall 25 and strap 26. To hold said containeragainst displacement from the carrier, a separable strap or bucklearrangement 2] is provided, the same being preferably opposite to strapZB to lock the container in place.

The means 8, as shown, comprises a large gear 28 on one trunnion 24, apinion gear 29 in mesh with gear 28 and rotatable in bearing 2|, and ahand wheel 30 for rotating said pinion gear. Thus, manual rotation ofthe hand wheel, through speed reduction gearing 28 and 29, results inslower, more powerful rotation of the carrier 6 on its trunnions. Saidgearing may be suitably enclosed for purposes of safety. If desired, asuitable electric motor may replace the hand wheel.

The platform 9 is located immediately adjacent to carrier '5 and betweenthe same and the front of the frame. The track means! I for saidplatform comprises a pair of rails 3| beneath platform, 9 and extendinglongitudinally on both sides of carrierii. A transverse bar 3W supportsthe rearward ends of said rails and the forward ends thereof aresupported from posts It on bolts or pins 32 selectively insertible inholes 33 in bars 34 affixed to posts Hi. It will be seen that rails 3|may be arranged to be substantially level or inclined downward, asdesired, from their forward ends.

Platform 9 is supported by rails 3| to move therealong. The supportmeans comprises a Z-shaped member 35 associated with each rail 3| and atleast two rollers 36 carried by said members 35 and riding said rails.The members 35 are pivotally connected to platform 9 near the forwardend and adjusting means, such as screws 31, connect said members andplatform at the rear and serve to level the latter according to theangular position of rails 3|.

The means l2 comprises a pair of members 38 that extend from pivots 39on brackets 40 fixed to the top of platform 9, upwardly and rearwardly,to pivot connections 4| on side members 23. Said connections 4| may beadjustable relative to trunnions 24. Members 38 are made adjustable forlength, as indicated, and in this connection, members 23 may also besimilarly adjustable. The reason for such adjustability and alsoadjustability of the angle of rails 3| is that different sizes of largeand small containers 1 and I!) may be accommodated by the presentmachine.

The operator, after placing a large container I on carrier 6 and lockingthe same in place and placing an empty small container ID on platform 9,takes a position opposite hand wheel 2| and turns the same in acounter-clockwise direction with respect to his position. Carrier 6 willthus be tilted or swung in an are about the axis of trunnions 24. As thecarrier moves rearwardly in an arc, connection means l2 pulls platform 9rearwardly along rails 3|. Thus, container I3 is moved toward theposition vacated by container 1. Consequently, as the contents ofcontainer 1 are poured, when the latter achieves a pouring angle, thesame finds container 10 in position to receive it. The hand wheel isturned to achieve the pouring angle desired of container 1 and helduntil a desired filling of container I is obtained. Then the machine isrestored to its initial position and filled container l0 replaced by anempty one. The process is then repeated until container 1 is empty.

A large filled container 1 is of considerable weight and while gears 28and 29, together with a large hand wheel 2|, provide a power advantage,operation is rendered easier by providing counterweights 42 for part ofthe weight represented by carrier 6 and container I. Said counterweightsmay extend from members 23 on the opposite side of trunnions 24, as inFig. 4.

While the invention that has been illustrated and described is nowregarded as the preferred embodiment, the construction is, of course,subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. It is therefore not desired to restrict the invention tothe particular form of construction illustrated and described, but tocover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-mountedcarrier for a large container, a slidably-mounted platform for a smallcontainer, means to pivot the-carrier in a direction away from theplatform to tilt the large container thereon, and a connection betweenthe carrier and the platform to move the container on the latter towardthe position vacated by the large container to receive the pouredcontents of said large container.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-mountedcarrier for a large container, means for locking the large containernon-displaceably on the carrier in all pivotal positions of the latter,a slidably-mounted platform for a small container, means to pivot thecarrier in a direction away from the platform to tilt the largecontainer thereon, and a connection between the carrier and the platformto move the container on the latter toward the position vacated by thelarge container to receive the poured contents of said large container.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-mountedcarrier for a large container, a counterweight on the carrier forbalancing the weight thereof and at least part of the weight of thelarge container thereon, a slidably-mounted platform for a smallcontainer, means to pivot the carrier in a direction away from theplatform to tilt the large container thereon, and a connection betweenthe carrier and the platform to move the container on the latter towardthe position vacated by the large container to receive the pouredcontents of said large container.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-mountedcarrier for a large container, a slidably-mounted platform for a smallcontainer, means mounting said platform adjustably to level the same andthe container thereon, means to pivot the carrier in a direction awayfrom the platform to tilt the large container thereon, and a connectionbetween the carrier and the platform to move the container on the lattertoward the, position vacated by the large container to receive thepoured contents of said large container.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-mountedcarrier for a large container, 2. slidably-mounted platform for a smallcontainer, a slide guide for said platform, means to pivot the carrierin a direction away from the platform to tilt the large containerthereon, and a connection between the carrier and the platform to movethe container on the latter toward the position vacated by the largecontainer to receive the poured contents of said large container.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-mountedcarrier for a large container, a slidably-mounted platform for a smallcontainer, a slide guide for said platform, support for said guide andembodying an adjustment at one end thereof whereby said slide guide isinclined relative to, the platform, means to pivot the carrier in adirection away from the platform to tilt the large container thereon,and a connection between the carrier and the platform to move thecontainer on the latter toward the position vacated by the largecontainer to receive the poured contents of said large container.

'7. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-mountedcarrier for a large container, a slidably-mounted platform for a smallcontainer, means to pivot the carrier in a direction away from theplatform to tilt the large container thereon, said latter meanscomprising pivot trunnions for the carrier, an operating member, andpower-advantage gearing connecting the latter and one of the trunnions,and a connection between the carrier and the platform to move thecontainer on the latter toward the position vacated by the largecontainer to receive the poured contents of said large container.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a pivotally-monntedcarrier for a large container, a slidably-mounted platform for a smallcontainer, means to pivot the carrier in a direction away from theplatform to tilt the large container thereon, and a connection betweenthe carrier and the platform to move the container on the latter towardthe position vacated by the large container and beneath the same toreceive the poured contents of the large container, said connectionbeing adjustable.

9. In a machine of the character described, a

' contents of said large container.

THOMAS LEON BUSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dyer Apr. 5, 1921 Number

